Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 縫 (缝) evolved from ancient pictographs showing the action of sewing or stitching. In its earliest forms found in Liushutong, the character combined the radical for 'silk' or 'thread' (糸) with elements indicating the action of joining or piercing. Over centuries, it standardized into its modern form 縫, maintaining the silk radical while the right component evolved to represent both sound and meaning. The character fundamentally means 'to sew,' 'to stitch,' or 'to mend,' extending metaphorically to concepts of joining, repairing relationships, or careful construction. This evolution reflects how ancient Chinese characters preserved core meanings while adapting visually across different script styles from oracle bone to clerical to standard script. Arrived in Japan: The character 縫 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE as part of the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems (kanji) through Korean scribes and Buddhist texts. It became established in the Japanese writing system during the Asuka and Nara periods (6th-8th centuries) when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters for official records, literature, and Buddhist scriptures.